The role of home economics teachers in enhancing adolescents’ food literacy to develop healthy dietary behaviours

Journal article


Ronto, Rimante, Ball, Lauren, Pendergast, Donna and Harris, Neil. (2016). The role of home economics teachers in enhancing adolescents’ food literacy to develop healthy dietary behaviours. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia. 23(1), pp. 11 - 19.
AuthorsRonto, Rimante, Ball, Lauren, Pendergast, Donna and Harris, Neil
Abstract

Food literacy education is a potential public health strategy to support adolescents to have healthy dietary behaviours. In most high schools in Australia home economics teachers are well positioned to teach food literacy. However, there is limited understanding of the contribution of home economics teachers towards educating adolescents to develop food literacy and healthy dietary behaviours. This study explored high school home economics teachers’ understanding of food literacy and their role in developing adolescents’ food literacy and healthy dietary behaviours. Qualitative study design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 high school home economics teachers in Australia. The interview questions focused on the teachers’ understanding of food literacy, their background in food literacy, and their role in enhancing adolescents’ food literacy and healthy dietary behaviours. Data were analysed using the thematic data analysis method. Overall, home economics teachers displayed an understanding of food literacy that broadly consisted of food and nutrition knowledge and food skills. They discussed two levels of food literacy: basic food skills and macro topics such as environmental sustainability. Many home economics teachers recognised the potential impact of food literacy on food choices and health outcomes. Finally, the teachers also described their responsibility and that of other teachers to be positive role models to further impact on the food literacy and healthy dietary behaviours of adolescents.

KeywordsFood literacy; adolescents; high school; home economics; food educators
Year2016
JournalJournal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia
Journal citation23 (1), pp. 11 - 19
Page range11 - 19
Research GroupSchool of Allied Health
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q819/the-role-of-home-economics-teachers-in-enhancing-adolescents-food-literacy-to-develop-healthy-dietary-behaviours

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 119
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Enablers and barriers to implementation of and compliance with school-based healthy food and beverage policies : A systematic literature review and meta-synthesis
Ronto, R., Rathi, N., Worsley, A., Sanders, T., Lonsdale, C. and Wolfenden, L.. (2020). Enablers and barriers to implementation of and compliance with school-based healthy food and beverage policies : A systematic literature review and meta-synthesis . Public Health Nutrition. 23(15), pp. 2840-2855. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019004865
The global nutrition transition: trends, disease burdens and policy interventions
Ronto, Rimante, Wu, Jason H.Y. and Singh, Gitanjali M.. (2018). The global nutrition transition: trends, disease burdens and policy interventions. Public Health Nutrition. 21(12), pp. 2267 - 2270. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018000423
Removal of sugary drinks from vending machines: An Australian university case study
Tsai, Carrie, Slater, Scott, Ronto, Rimante, Gebel, Klaus and Wu, Jason H.Y.. (2018). Removal of sugary drinks from vending machines: An Australian university case study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 42(6), pp. 588 - 588. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12827
Adolescents' perspectives on food literacy and its impact on their dietary behaviours
Ronto, Rimante, Ball, Lauren, Pendergast, Donna and Harris, Neil. (2016). Adolescents' perspectives on food literacy and its impact on their dietary behaviours. Appetite. 107, pp. 549 - 557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.006
Food Literacy at Secondary Schools in Australia
Ronto, Rimante, Ball, Lauren, Pendergast, Donna and Harris, Neil D.. (2016). Food Literacy at Secondary Schools in Australia. Journal of School Health. 86(11), pp. 823 - 831. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12440
Social marketing physical activity interventions among adults 60 years and older: A systematic review
Fujihira, Haruka, Kubacki, Krzysztof, Ronto, Rimante, Pang, Bo and Rundle-Thiele, Sharyn. (2015). Social marketing physical activity interventions among adults 60 years and older: A systematic review. Social Marketing Quarterly. 21(4), pp. 214 - 229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524500415606671